"We listen, learn, and share in appreciation of being alive. We are not perfect, but we believe this is how it starts..." HocTok Team

- Here & Now -

My Beautiful People

by Arisa White

We take solace in the words of our spiritual Goddess, Nina Simone who has said, “An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times.”
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Take a deep breath and read the reflections of one of our favorite poets, Arisa White.

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Photo credit: Samantha Florio

Finding the Truth Through Writing

Marissa Glover

Marissa Glover is a creator whose work and words are relevant and meaningful, especially because they are sincere and heartfelt. She is a performance poet, an educator, a mother whose world evolves around love. Marissa is talented and busy with numerous projects but none of her achievements or responsibilities have changed her. She remains humble and kind. She is someone you need to listen to if you are at loss of words over what’s going on around you or in the world at large. Enjoy our conversation with her, and take this opportunity to know Marissa Glover. She offers advice and honest opinions that we all need to pay attention to in order to help ourselves and one another. 

Photo: courtesy of the artist
Find a comfortable nook or go out in nature and read something worthy. Get to know Marissa Glover, her poetry, and a sneak peak of her world. You will be inspired and motivated. Read here one of her latest poems and be ready for her forthcoming poetry collection "Let Go of the Hands You Hold". ​

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Future Ruins

Martin Garde Abildgaard

I like to create stories with a timeless feeling which can be understood in different ways, depending on who you are & where you are in your life. Future Ruins, to me, is on one level the story about two souls. About a relationship and how hard, and important, it is to keep relationships alive.
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​On a higher level, the story to me also can be experienced with a great environmental message and is about Mankind and Mother Earth. About our struggle to keep this beautiful planet alive.
We shot the video long before the whole Covid-19 situation, but I totally agree that the story can be interpreted to be about isolation and the state-of-mind we all are in right now. That’s the beauty of working with art, because it can be perceived in so many ways. And I can promise you, that if you watch Future Ruins in seven years from now, it will have a completely new meaning to you again. Martin Garde Abildgaard

Counting the Small Joys & Cherishing Every Day

Jihyun Yun

Photo: courtesy of the artist
Jihyun Yun is a poet and a poetic soul. What she writes is important and enjoyable as it flows from a place of honest feelings and true love. Jihyun is the author of an upcoming publication titled "Some Are Always Hungry". She defines her book as “a love song to my mother and my grandmother and all the women before who I passed through to arrive in this world as I am” and that dedication alone merits attention. Jihyun’s poetry will help you have a good day so read her work and get her book the first chance you get.
 
On this Monday, try to do something nice to help a fellow human being. You'll find it rewarding on many levels. Jihyun Yun concentrates on uplifting fellow late 2019/ 2020 authors who have had their book tours disrupted by the pandemic. 
Whatever battles you are facing, avoid getting stuck in webs of negative energy. Do as Jihyun does and start growing vegetables or start a herb garden instead. Let in the sun and always follow a wise mother’s advice to “be good” each morning. Jihyun Yun's interview and poetry will help you jumpstart your week.
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Santo Brúklin

A New Family Owned Restaurant Amidst Shutdown

"Hello. We are Pedro, Naina, and Sara. We are family, friends, transplants, and recently, the new owners of Santo Brúklin. Pedro and Naina grew up as cousins who were more like siblings in Rio de Janeiro and Sara comes from a small town called Sweet Home, Oregon. We met by chance a few years back (Sara & Pedro got married two years ago) and have always had this idea in the back of our minds to open our own bar-restaurant. A few months ago an opportunity came around that we couldn’t resist, and Santo Bruklin was born. 

Santo Brúklin Staff

We opened the same weekend that Governor Cuomo announced the shutdown. We’ve been so fortunate to be welcomed by our new neighbors, and the support from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve been keeping busy and staying focused on the future - whatever it brings. Staying afloat is not without challenges. Although we love each other’s company, we miss the ease of socializing in NYC. ​​The spontaneous plans with friends; crowding into bars to watch the latest Drag Race episode; days spent exploring new parts of the city - these are things we took for granted and things that we underestimated how much we’d miss. Until then, these brief interactions with our new customers are the light at the end of the tunnel. The humanity and compassion we’ve seen over the past 8 weeks have given us hope that our city will come out of this even stronger than before." #NYClights 

Make a Lemon Tart and Ponder the Bigger Picture

Pastry Chef Nikolas Strangas

Nicholas Strangas is a passionate dessert chef based in Denmark although originally from Greece. He is an adventurer at heart. He loves experimenting with different ingredients and techniques for some really awesome sweet treats. Maybe getting to know Nicholas Strangas and drooling over his desserts will inspire you to try a new recipe. How about his lemon tart?

Somewhere it's rainy today. It might be cold where you are. Sunny anywhere? Good. Think of a beautiful summer in Mykonos where you may run into Nicholas if things turn back to normal soon. Dream of a trip to Denmark as another great destination and home to Nicholas Strangas. Make the acquaintance of a talented gent who has a great personality and can whip up delicious treats like it's no big deal. ​

Photo: courtesy of the artist
Choose to be in a dessert state of mind and start the week on a sweet note. Enjoy!

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The Fort - a new book for kids of all ages

Laura Perdew

Laura Perdew is a writer, an educator, and also a builder of forts and all kinds of magical worlds. Her most recent book is titled The Fort. It is a great read for kids and parents alike. Buy a copy of Laura’s latest book and begin your own adventures in forts built indoors or outdoors. Be creative and do the best you can with any materials you have around you.
 
Pause worrying about the difficulties we are facing, listen to Laura Perdew’s advice and remind yourself that this is a great opportunity for families to come together to play games, dance, draw, paint, play music, and cook together.  As The Fort’s author says, “Whatever you do – disconnect and be together.”
Before you turn off your computers, tablets, and phones, enjoy Laura Perdew’s interview, and plan your week by getting inspired to build your fort whether on a piece of paper or in the living room. 

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Voice Our Values More Than Our Fears

Francesca Borgo

Francesca Borgo is a visual artist hailing from Trieste. She tells us that art gives her purpose and courage. That’s impressive to hear especially coming from someone like Francesca. Her accumulated professional experiences include a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience and various jobs in the fields of psychology and later marketing. Francesca Borgo turned to art at a certain point in her life and she has never looked back.  
That begs the question, are the arts helping us during these trying times? How are you coping with everything at the moment? What are some lessons learned from these challenging days? 

Photo: courtesy of the artist
We are all struggling with these questions and more, but it is people like Francesca Borgo who help us find meaning through their work and conversations. Seek a calm state of mind and pin Francesca's words, “I love to think that this crisis will encourage us to give voice to our values much more than to our fears..."

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Patricia Vidal Delgado

The Filmmaker of ​"The Hood": How Do We Cope?

Patricia Vidal Delgado is a young and very passionate filmmaker. She is part of the artist community that makes the world a better place. Her work is sharp. She has a clear understanding of her surroundings and our shared realities. She is not shy to explore and learn. Patricia’s aim is to make films that are thought provoking, but also exciting and intense.
 
Lately, most of us feel like we have entered a hell hole of a phase and the light at the end of the tunnel seems to get farther as soon as we get a lick of good news. Well, don’t despair. We are not alone. We are in this together. The world has insightful creative minds like Patricia Vidal Delgado who are as nice in real life as when they get awards and recognitions. We expect to hear and see more from Patricia. We’ll be here to promote and cheer her on.

Photo: courtesy of the artist
Take Patricia Delgado’s advice and don’t forget that what really matters is the here and now because that is the only thing that is real.

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#NYlights

#NYlights is our series showcasing real New Yorkers who deserve a standing ovation. They are business owners, creators, artists, makers whose realities have turned upside down in recent weeks. Despite the difficult situation and high level of uncertainty, everyone we feature here hopes and does whatever possible to keep the NY Lights on. We need to be reminded of New York's resiliency now more than ever. If you wish to nominate a wonderful New Yorker to be added to our #NYlights, send us a note. Cheers to hope and better days ahead for NYC and the world!

When Crises Arise, Pianists Carry On

Radoslawa Jasik & Andrea Domenici

Radoslawa Jasik, known as Radosia, is a classical pianist from Poland. Andrea Domenici is a jazz pianist born and raised in Italy. The two of them met at music school in New York. That’s the beginning of their love story, and the Big Apple is their home now. In addition to being life partners, Radosia and Andrea make beautiful music together. Their professional collaboration was not as easy a choice as one might think. Although they have always supported each other’s individual projects, they have also been keenly aware of the fact that they belong to two different parts of the music world. 

Photo: courtesy of the artist
Radosia and Andrea were busy finding ways to make a mark in the competitive artistic circles in New York until a few weeks ago. Then their realities were turned upside down once the pandemic hit. Now they are counting their blessings and they say they have learned to live day by day.

Read more about these two passionate musicians and get a taste of their music. #NYlights

Greatness...

...my assignment: how do I understand greatness? What will it take to achieve it? And right now, I don't know. I am a little bit overwhelmed by all the usage of "great" "greater" "greatest" or "greatness". I'm tired of hearing these words. Maybe I've heard them said at the wrong time by the wrong people. 
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Maybe deep down I know I'll never do anything great and that's why I don't know what to say about 'greatness'. Maybe that's why I can only focus on small things that can be good and helpful. Maybe I'm more interested in relevance rather than greatness in these days of complete uncertainty. The most relevant actors in today's crazy reality are the ones who will pinpoint the connecting dots of greatness in the name of our common humanity. Those who act decisively and selflessly, keeping their cool under mounting  pressure, will define greatness. We better take note and follow their lead.

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Photo credit: Triangle News

Tokyo Stories

Francesco Tristano

In a world of ever-growing armies of people giving it all they’ve got for an ounce of notoriety of any sort, there seems to be another group of people who are the complete opposite. They are the ones who do not seek glory but live and work in search of serenity. For this group, purpose and passion seem to intertwine. 

Fracesco Tristano is a Juilliard educated, Luxembourg-born pianist and electronic artist. He is a good example of multitalented, creative minds whose purpose is to share with the world his pure love of music. ​

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Photo: courtesy of the artist

Imagined Realities

Alaba Onajin

​Alaba Onajin is one of the artists chosen for the Women in African History Project by UNESCO. The mission of the project is to educate children in Africa and also the world about the brave women who have helped shaped the progress and growth of the continent. What better choice than a young artist who has passion, vision, and tenacity to keep doing what he loves and forget about the nay sayers and negative energy of any kind.

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Anaïs Duplan

You Will Succeed

Photo credit: Yael Malka
Anaïs Duplan is the type of poet and writer whose works you want to read and re-read until his newest one is published. 

Get acquainted with Anaïs Duplan’s work and you will feel like you have a friend who’ll always keep the conversation flow with what’s true and real, intelligent and clear. At this moment Anaïs believes “getting more in touch with your emotions helps you connect with others in more genuine ways. Intimacy is such a magical thing, and then again, it’s so ordinary! If we can get out of the way of it, it happens so naturally.”

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In Pencil & Paper

Christelle Bilodeau

Christelle Bilodeau’s portfolio includes amazing pencil drawings of some fantastic artists such Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Amy Winehouse, Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga and many more. Her artistry is undeniable and just take a look at her body of work for an introduction to her talent. Christelle’s portraits reflect a high level of precision, plenty of details and that that little something that captivates the essence of each individual who becomes the subject of her art pieces. 

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Amy Winehouse - Before Frank series
Pencils and colored pencils on 15'x20' paper
July 2016

Pencil drawing of Bob Dylan
Graphite pencils on  11'x14' paper
2012

Pencil drawing of Lady Gaga
Graphite pencils on 18'x24' paper
2016